Bricks exhibiting negative poisson`s ratio

Abstract

A brick includes outer walls defining a hollow interior space, the outer walls including: substantially flat top and bottom walls; and side walls angled inwards toward a central portion of the NPR brick, such that application of a compressive force between the top and bottom walls causes a lateral dimension of the brick between opposite side walls to decrease. At least some of the outer walls of the brick include a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brick comprising:
 outer walls, wherein at least one of the outer walls is angled inwards toward a central portion of the brick, such that application of a compressive force between the top and bottom walls causes a lateral dimension of the brick to decrease,   in which at least some of the outer walls of the brick include a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR).   
     
     
         2 . The brick of  claim 1 , in which multiple opposite outer walls of the brick are angled inwards. 
     
     
         3 . The brick of  claim 1 , in which the at least some of the outer walls of the brick include an NPR foam material. 
     
     
         4 . The brick of  claim 3 , in which the NPR foam material comprises an isotropic NPR foam material. 
     
     
         5 . The brick of  claim 3 , in which at least one of the outer walls defines a corner that points toward the central portion of the brick. 
     
     
         6 . The brick of  claim 3 , in which at least one of the outer walls defines a concave profile. 
     
     
         7 . The brick of  claim 3 , in which the top, bottom, and side walls of the brick define a hollow interior space at the central portion of the brick. 
     
     
         8 . A brick wall comprising:
 an NPR brick configured to exhibit NPR behavior, the NPR brick comprising:
 first outer walls, wherein at least one of the first outer walls is angled inwards toward a central portion of the NPR brick; 
 a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR) brick disposed adjacent to the NPR brick, the PPR brick comprising second outer walls, wherein at least one of the second outer walls is angled outwards away from a central portion of the PPR brick, 
   wherein angled second outer wall of the PPR brick is nested within the angled the first outer wall of the NPR brick; and   mortar disposed between the NPR brick and the PPR brick.   
     
     
         9 . The brick of  claim 8 , in which multiple opposite outer walls of the brick are angled inwards. 
     
     
         10 . The brick wall of  claim 8 , in which the outer walls of the NPR brick define a hollow interior space at the central portion of the NPR brick. 
     
     
         11 . The brick wall of  claim 8 , in which the walls of the PPR brick define a hollow interior space at the central portion of the PPR brick. 
     
     
         12 . The brick wall of  claim 8 , in which at least one of the outer walls of the NPR brick defines a corner that points toward the central portion of the NPR brick. 
     
     
         13 . The brick of  claim 8 , in which at least one of the outer walls of the NPR brick defines a concave profile. 
     
     
         14 . The brick wall of  claim 8 , in which at least one of the outer walls of the PPR brick defines a corner that points away from the central portion of the NPR brick. 
     
     
         15 . The brick of  claim 8 , in which at least one of the outer walls of the PPR brick defines a convex profile. 
     
     
         16 . The brick wall of  claim 8 , in which the NPR brick comprises an NPR foam material. 
     
     
         17 . The brick of  claim 8 , in which the NPR foam material comprises an isotropic NPR foam material. 
     
     
         18 . The brick wall of  claim 8 , in which the NPR foam material comprises reentrant structures. 
     
     
         19 . The brick wall of  claim 8 , in which the NPR brick comprises a composite material comprising the NPR foam material and a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR) material. 
     
     
         20 . The brick wall of  claim 8 , in which the mortar comprises an NPR foam material.